Coach Roudy preparing for second annual day camp

FRESH FOOD Beth Buckley and her daughter, Elle, 8, are using the new iPad… (Marta Mikulan Martin, FPG )

June 6, 2012|JASON STROMBERG jstromberg@tribune.com

When it comes to making fitness fun, Roudy Derisse keeps his priorities in order.

Through his website, coachroudy.com, those interested in his program can learn more about what it takes to eat healthy and stay in shape.

Each summer for the past two years, Derisse looks forward to helping children accomplish this feat through the Camp Grandview with Coach Roudy program at Grandview Preparatory School, 336 Spanish River Blvd. NW, in Boca Raton.

"We're ahead of the game this year," said Derisse, a Delray Beach resident. "We're leaps and bounds from where we were last year."

It starts with Camp Roudy's Family Cart app, which Derisse said is currently under construction but ready for use on the iPhone and iPad. The new App replicates a grocery store, enabling children and adults to read and react to each food group and its beneficiaries.

Beth Buckley, the marketing director of the app, is lending Derisse a hand when it comes to organizing the app, which can be downloaded at familycartapp.com. Her daughter, Elle, attends Grandview Prep and makes use of the app at the local supermarkets.

"It's a free app for iPhones and iPads and we're still testing it," said Derisse, 30. "For each food group, the app tells you what is good for adults and what is good for children. It's simple for the kids. It tells you what's good for your heart, your skin, your bones, your hair, your muscles, as well as the vitamins that are contained in each group. It reaffirms healthy eating."

Besides running his website, Derisse is also the after-care director at Grandview Prep during the school year. The health activist appreciates the support he gets for not only being the local school's camp director but also for helping organize Family Fun Runs, strength and conditioning classes for children, and morning boot camp classes for their parents.

"The goal is to give children a healthy and active environment to enjoy themselves in," said Derisse, who is preparing for the eight-week camp. "When I see that they're enjoying the activities, and the food that we're giving them is healthy, I know as a camp we're doing a great job."

The weekly camp runs from 8:45 a.m. to 3:20 p.m. Before-care is available starting at 7:30 a.m., with after-care offered until 6 p.m. There are four sessions, beginning with Session I from June 11-22, then Session II from June 25-July 6, Session III from July 9-20 and Session IV from July 23-Aug. 3.

Camp Grandview with Coach Roudy offers an organic lunch to each camper, or participants can bring a lunch. Derisse smiles when discussing his favorite lunch, and encourages each camper to try the healthy snacks that the camp offers as opposed to the portrayed "fun and cool" unhealthy snacks on television.

Derisse enjoys quinoa with sweet potato, avocado, bison and spinach because "it's a great energy lunch," he said. "These are good carbs for the brain and muscles. Knowledge is power. Our organic lunches consist of grilled chicken, Swiss and turkey sandwiches, baked chips, fresh fruit and more."

Campers ages 3-14 at Grandview can look forward to having fun playing all sports, singing Glee-like musical songs, playing educational games and having mom read to each group on Friday mornings. Derisse is inviting parents to read an approved children's book to the campers for 15 minutes.

It's one of two new formats Derisse is excited to promote, alongside Grandview Prep's Head of School Jackie Westerfield.

"Through exercise and healthy eating, or talking about how to grow your own food garden, we want to educate everyone on what's best and what's not best for your body," Derisse said. "I really admire how Michelle Obama has made it her No. 1 priority to fight childhood obesity. We're going to talk about how it's great to have an orange, have a vegetable or take a bite out of a Nutri-Grain bar. These are the healthier fruit options."